Printing press



p 1940- G. L. PIERCE 2,214,751

r PRINTING PRESS v ori i lriledoct. ls. 193'? 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 11,1940

PATENT oFHCE f f j 1a,an:rilimilsg "cum-tn Pierce/Columbus, Ohio,

mesne assignments, to The Todd Company,

assignor, hy:

me, i

Rochester; N.'Y., a corporation of New York ctober16,193i,SerialNoJiiiMfw w Renewed December 16; 1939 Y 'ociaima (onion-23a) 'I'hisinvention relates .to printing presse's', and

more particularly to rotary printing presses of provision of a press for reproducing validating signatures, or.

the type adapted for theprinting' of twoormore colors with each impression.

. fI'he invention has for the; primary ,obiect the simple, rapidly {operatingprinting other corresponding insignia on negotiahle instrumentsjsuchas bank 'drafts' orfchecks. .In many business' omcesthe task or writing validatingsignatures on a largefnumbefloi! bank "capacity-oi facilitating I [block fixed on its outer checksis atime consuming, laborious and costly one. Ordinaryv printing of a signature iacsimile on negotiable instruments, whiie'conve'nient'," is

draudulent duplication. I I Accordingly, the present'invention providesfan improved machine for the printing 'otfsuch signatures wherein the signature impression is containedfwithin a protective border of intricate ornamentaldesign, the border possessinga contrasting" color with respect to the signature impressio'n, the machine thereby serving in the dual not practical because of the comparative ease of dating signature impressions to bank checks 'or the'likeand at the same time r'endering such impressions most difllcult to forge 'orimitate;

- "Anotherpbject oi. the inventioniresides in the provision of a prihting'niachine for the-p p ses indicated wherein use is" made .of a rotatable printing cylinder having a border-producing type periphery and. a" signature r'e'producing type block moux'i'tedzwithin' the cylinder for radial movement with mrespect thereto andiwith respect to the border block, automatic cam-operated means beingwprovidedzin connection with theprinting cylinder to effect timed changes in the,radial operating. positions "of the signature iblockyto-the end thatduring each complete rotative cycle of the cylinder; the

"signature block will, first, beiheldin a retracted position to provide for the inking of the surfaces of the border block, second, advanced to a pro- ..:jected position to effect application oi! ink to the surfaces of the signature block of a color conti-acting from that applied to the border block, and,..'third, brought. into "even registration with .the border block so that both blocks will apply differently colored inlr-v impressions to the checks or other paper fed through the machine.

A further objectresides in the provisionloi J novel means for automatically, feeding in suc- 'cessive ordenapiurality of bank checks to the machine: aligning ture impressions 91 I the :checks so that,the signadrive means therefor;

the application of vali- I Fig.- 4 and disclosing line xx ofv Fig.

t pr ting cylinder will 1 be applied at the proper locations on sai cl'checlrs and vfor feeding the single successive checks at proper. times to the printing cylinder andits associated platen roll.

reference is to be, had" Fig. 1 is avertical sectional 'view taken through the printing machinecomprising the presentinventionz; a

gearing for the paper chine; I

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical he line 111-111 viwdisclosing theldrive sectional view on its associated platen roll and thesupportingand Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the machine onthe line IV-IV 0! Fig.1 and disclosing the paper feeding rollsand associated supporting and controlling mechanism i v Fig 5 isa detail vertical sectional view onthe line V-Vof Fig. 3 and disclosing the eccentric $5 journals for the platen roll; Fig. 6 is a similar. view on Fig. 3 and illustrating the cam and latch. mech- -Janism {or governingthe operating positions of the platen rollv with respect o the printing cylinder;

a Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line VII--VII of Fig. 4 and ,disclosing the cam mechanism for effecting relative movement between "adjoinin parts of the paper ieeding rolls; w

Fig. 8 is a detail view on the line VIII-V1110! v w the eccentric iournalsfor the shafts of the movable paper'feeding rolls;

'Fig. 9 is'a vertical transverse'sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 1x--1x of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional .view on the 1 showing the. primary teed roll Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view on the line xi -XI of Fig.1;

Fig; 12 is a vertical sectionalview'illustrating the for operating the radially-movable signature type block derig: M Fig, .13is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line xm-xm of Fig; 3 and disclosing the means for efiectingthe rotative adjustment of the printing cylinder a about itssupp rting c h r tinc rlinfeeding rolls of n aof Fig. 1 and disclosing in ver- .15 "tical longitudinal section theprinting cylinder,

Fig. 14 is a similar view on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 3;

Fi 15 isa vertical longitudinal sectional view of the drive mechanism for the shaft of the printing cylinder;

Fig. 19 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the mechanism for connecting theprinting cylinder to the driving shaft therefor;

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the numeral I designates the bed plate or base casting 'of the machine and the numeral 2,ithe cover or hood suitably-supported in connection with the bed plate and adapted to protect and enclose the various parts of the machine mounted on the bed plate. The numeral 3 designates the rotary printing cylinder of the machine and the numeral 4 its associated platen roll. Paper is automatically'fed by the provision of the timing rolls 5, '6, and 8 between the printing cylinder 3 and the platen roll 4 to produce on the paper sheet, indicated at 9 in Fig. '17,-a validating signature H) and a protective border the'border being in a color contrasting with that used in producing the signature facsimile Ill. The border is preferably-composed of fine lines of intricate design, involving scrolls or cross shading of a character diiiicult to imitate or reproduce and within its center, the border is provided with an a open area for the reception'of the signature facsimile. By the operation of the machine comprising the present invention, the signature. Ill and the border I in contrasting colors maybe quickly and accurately reproduced on bank checks or other negotiable instrument paper. fed rapidly and successively through the machine.

To effect the rotation of the printing cylinder 3, there ismounted on the .bed plate I an electric motor l2. The shaft 3 of this motor carries a pulley wheel l4, around which passes an endless belt, I5, the latter being also trained overan enlarged pulley wheel l6, mounted on a stud shaft Driven by the wheel I6 is a spur gear pinion IBwhich drives an enlarged idler gear I!) mounted for rotation in connection with a shaft 20.

Rotatable with the gear |9-is a pinion 2| which meshes with acorresponding pinion 22 fixed on I the drive .shaft 23 for the printing cylinder 3.

Meshing with the pinion 22 is an enlarged gear 24, which is supported for rotation in a vertical plane in connection with a stud shaft projecting from a supporting bracket 25, stationarily carried by and arising from the bed plate i. The gear 24 meshes with a pinion 2B, which is fixed to a shaft 21, the latter carrying a gear 28, which meshes with a similar gear 29, which is secured as at 30 (Fig. 10) to a paper feeding cylinder 3|. The cylinder 3| comprises a pair of disk-shaped heads 32, which are spaced longitudinally on a fixed supporting shaft 33 extending transversely of the bed plate I, and around which shaft the feeding cylinder loosely revolvesJ The ends of the shaft 33 are suitably journaled in a bracket 25a and in an associated bracket 34, the latter being equipped with a set screw 35 to hold the shaft 33 stationary and in its operating position. The inner faces of the heads 32 are annularly recessed as at 36 for the reception'of the cylindrical shell 3'! of the feeding cylinder, the shell 31 and the heads 32 being held together in assembled relationship by means of longitudinally extending screw bolts 38. The shell 31 is longitudinally slotted as at 39 and positionedrinthis slot and projecting slightly past the sameare paper feeding wheels 40, preferably of rubber or other Fig. 10, are carried by the squared portions 4| of a longitudinally extending shaft 42, the latter having its ends Journaled in bearing openings provided therefor in the heads 32, the shaft 42 I thus serving to support the wheels so that the outer peripheries of the latter project slightly beyond the corresponding outer peripheral surface of the shell 31. The wheels 40 are rotatedat a higher. rate of speed thanthe cylinder 3| by providing one end ofthe shaft This pinion meshes with'a e stationary, gear 44 fixed on the shaft 33. It

will be seen that as the cylinder 3|"rev0lves'1about the axis/of the thereon.

lcompressible material. The wheels 40, shown in" 4.2 witha pinion43:

Registering with the upper portion eith'sii'en 31 is a stationary paper-receiving shelf 45..(Fig.

16). The shelf forms the bottom of expeeket of a magazine into which a'suitable quantity of 'pa per, such as bank checks or thelike isplaced with I one sheetover the other. The back of the magazine isfo'rmed by a sloping wall 46, .-to-the lower end of which is connecteda bracket ,4'l having' engagement with one or more adjusting screws 48 by which the wall 46 may be adjusted relative to the shelf and .adaptedto paper-sheets of varying width. The front wall of: the maga-.

zine is indicated by the numeral49 and is car ried by a supplemental bracket 50 which is securedas at 5| to the, bracket 25a. 0n the inner side of thewall 43, there is pivotallyconnected as at52 a frame 53, the latter carrying atits lower.

of fixed rollers 54, preferably of end a plurality leather. The periphery of the roller 54 isdissurrounding the shank of a headed pin '56 norposed inclose proximity to that of the shell 31 I and the vertical plane of theframe53 is slightly offset with respect to the vertical plane passing,

mally maintains the frame 53 in engagement" with the wall 49. This construction serves to in-;

sure the delivery of but a single sheet from the bottom of the pile of superposed sheets of paper arranged within the feeding magazine.

Contacting with the top of the shell 31' melee .posed in a vertical plane-passing through axis of the cylinder 3|, is a plurality of feed the.

wheels 51'. These wheels are fixedto a shaft: 58 f (Fig. 11) having the outer ends thereof ,journaled in the outer ends of a pair of swinging bellcrank arms 59, which are pivotally supported as at 6|] in connection with the supplemental bracket' 50, coil springs'Gl being connected with the ends of the shorter arms of the bell-cranks'59 and which normally serve to maintain the wheels 51 in firm contact with the peripheral portion of the shell 31. By this construction, thebottom sheet of the bank checks or the like stacked with in the magazine is engaged bytheshell :31 and slightly advanced forwardly into engagement with the under part of the leather roller 54. As

the wade; 3| revolves, the ,wheels to, whichro tatablyproiect through the slotllof the shell 3-1, engage with the under sheet of-paper and force the same past; the wheels 51 along the upper sure facesof aplurality, of spaced bars 52,-forming a partof the framegof themachine (Fig;'9-). ,To further advance theusheets in. single successive order over the bars 62,;there, is provided a plurality of rolls '63v carried by; a transversely Journaled shaft 64, this shaft beingrotatably driven by a pinion 65, fixed to thcshaft 64* and meshing with the,'gear 28.. Therolls ii are positionedto engage -,with thepunder surfaces ofpaper sheets and cooperativejtherewith-qare feedwheels 66; carriedby a. shaft 61 This shaft is ,sup-

vidual-paper sheets into cooperationwith the printing cylinder. This result is attained by the provision of the timing rolls 5, 5-, Land 8.1; These-rolls extend transversely sot-the machine and the latter :tWQI are each provided ,aththeiriinner ends withreducedshaft extensions, 10, .The upper 1'10115 S'and 6 are rigidly secured to shafts Illa-journaled-in bearingsJormed in connection 'with framebrackets 25a,and 12, while thelower set of-rolls '1 and 8 are, tubular and receive. elongated shafts 1 3,;

.The ends of thesha'fts 13 of the; lower rolls 1 and 8 have fixed thereto (Fig. 8) l-eccentricgbear ings'll. These bearings comprise disks having truly circular peripheral portions'but the shafts 13 are eccentrically positioned inthebearing disks with respectto their actual centers; the bearing ,disks'll being rotatably mounted in connection withbearing brackets 15 and I6, which'stationarily arise from the bed plate;|,1;.- By reason-of theeccentric bearings for. supporting the rolls] and 8,

the latter-may be moved toward or away from theirrespective rolls, 5 and 6,-As; viewed in Fig. 1, the ro1ls6 and 8 so revolve thatwhen they are in engagement, the papersheets will: be-forced forwardly by said rolls toward the printing cylinder.-

when therolls 6; and 8 areso engaged, the rolls a .5. and=1 arespaced to permit ofthe freepassage of the paper sheets between the same and intoengagementwith the.,printing cylinder and platen roll Normally; however, the rolls 6 and 8 are separated, and the rolls land '1. are maintained in contact with each other. vThe rolls. 5 and I rotate in directions opposed to theadvance of the paper sheets through the machine, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1'. Due to'their rotation, the

passage of the sheets through the machineis momentarily interrupted and this condition exists while the typeblocks, hereinafter described, of the printing cylinder rotate to arr-impression producing position. Timed to therotationof the printing cylinder, the rolls, land'l separate and the rolls 8 and 8 come together; contacting withthe paper sheet caught betweenthe same and advancing the sheet between the then spaced rolls 5 and I and into printing-engagementwith the cylinder! I a This timed separation and engagement of the two sets of rolls, indicatedfat'i, 6, I and 8, is effected by providing the drive shaft 23, which is employed to rotate the printing cylinder, with a fixed cam Tl (Fig.7) This cam has its peripheral surfaces arranged to engage with a pair of rollers 18 mounted on the outer'ends of a pair of oscillatory arms 19, the latter havingtheir inner or hub ends fixedto theshafts l3of thelowerrolls l and 8. The shape of the peripheral surface of the cam 'll, is such as-toeffectpartial rotation of the shafts 13 and corresponding. rotationof the ac:

centric bearings so that the rolls land .8 will be raised or lowered in paper feeding synchronism with the rotationof the printing cylinderf'I'he rollers I8 are maintained in contact with the peripheral surface of the camJ] bymeans of a coil spring 80, which has its opDOSiteends connected with intermediate portions of the arms 'IS.- The timing rolls 5 6, land '8 are driven by means of a gearj l (Fig. 2) mounted on theshaftdii. The

gear 81 meshes withasecond gear-82 fixed on the shaft of the roll 5. Also mounted on the shaft of the roll 5 is a second gear 83, the teeth of which are in constantmeshing engagement with sup plemental gears 84 carriedby the shaftsof the rolls 6,! and 8. Rotation of the rolls is thus effected irrespective of ;the slight relative separation which takes placeattimed intervals between the sets of superposed rolls.

The printing cylinder 3 comprisesa pair of Iongitudinally' spaced heads 85 which are loosely mounted for rotation about the axis of, the shaft 23 The inner surfaces of the heads 85 are annularlyrecessed to receive the cylindrical body BG H of; the printing cylinder. Thesaid body is slotted as at 81 (Fig.1) and secured to the outer surface thereof and surrounding the'slot 81-isa border producing type block which serves to print the border design. ll onthechecks passedthrough the machine. Thecylinder 3 carries for, radial movement therein an adjustable signature -,pro-; ducing type block89 which during each complete rotating Qcycie of the printing cylinder; assumes threedistinct positions. In one positi on,.the block 89 is retracted so that its printing surfaces are disposed within the confines of the border block 88, in the second position, the printing surfaces of the signature block are extended radially and outwardly'beyond the corresponding surfaces of the border block, and, in the third position, thelprinting; surfaces of both of the blocks-88 and 89 are disposed in arcuate printingregistration.

I, Thus-as shown in Fig. 1,the frame bracket 90 of they machine, which overhangs the top of the printing cylinder, has connected thereto circumferentially spaced, radially disposed inking rolls 9| and92, which are removably carriedby clamp supports 93. The roll BI is disposed so that it will contact with theprinting surfaces; 'of the border block duringeach rotation of the printing cylinder. When the border block is in engagement with the roll '91, the signature :block isretracted. To apply'a different colored ink to the signature block to that applied to the surfaces of the border block, the said signature block is projected radially outwardly beyond the printing surfaces of the border block to contact with the inking roll 92. Then, when the type blocksare in registration with the platen roll 4, the printing surfaces of both blocks are aligned to produce their impression simultaneously on the -,-paper checks passed through the machine with the border impression in one color and the signature impression in another. 7 a l I a, The required movements of the signatureblock are obtained by providing the inner portion of said block with one or more rack extensions 94, the

4 teeth of which are engaged by one or more pinions 95 mounted on a shaft 96 which extends through the printing cylinder in parallel relationship with' its main-shaft 23. The outer end of the shaft 106,

which is a rock shaft, is connectedwith an arm 9'I carrying a roller 98 on its outer end. This roller is positioned in a camfgroove or track 99 formed in a disk I secured to theframe'bracket 25a,as atIOI.

The shaft 2: is rotatably jollrnaled in the mine brackets 25and 25a and also in a pivotally'm'ounted arm I02 carried byvthe outer end-of-theoverhanging bracket 90. fA tighteningg was used to maintain the arm lo: its operative p01 I sitions. By removing the screw I03, the, arm I02 may be'swung to a position providing for the convenient removal of the printing cylinder from the machine. To rotate the-printing cylinder, the shaftj23, as illustrated in Fig. 19, has fixed thereto a collar I04 provided with an opening to receive ;a pin I05. This pin is formed with a'gear I06 shaft I09 is normally non-rotatable and thus the engagement between the gear and pinion causes the rotation of the printing cylinder in 'unison with its drive shaft. However, to permit of' circumferential adjustment of the cylinder-about the axis of its drive shaft to obtain proper'synchronis'm between the operation of the printing {cylinder and the timing rolls 5, 6, I and 8, the pinion shaft is extended through the printing cyl- Inder to the exterior thereof and includes a crank arm I II in the form of a pointer or indicator (Fig. 14) the arm being movable with respect to a graduated surface I I2, formed on one of the heads 85. A cam lever I I0 pivoted in connection with the head engages the member III and holds "it against rotation. It will be seen that by swinging the'free end of the cam lever IIO outward, the arm I I I may be oscillated to rock the pinion shaft l 09, thus causing rotation of the pinion I08 'and its movement about the-circumference of the gear I06 and theresulting adjustment of the printing cylinder circumferentially about the axis of the shaft 23.. The movement of the lever IIO to the position shown in Fig. 18 then maintains any given adjustment.

The platen roll'4 is only moved into engage-- ment with the" printing cyclinder when paper is passing through the machine and only then when the type blocks 88 and 89 are in their impression producing positions. It the machine should be operated without passing paper through the same, for test or other purposes, the platen roll'remains spaced from the printing cylinder, so' that its exterior surfaces will be kept free from direct contact'with the inked surfaces of the typeblocks. vWhen themachine is in active operation and printing checks, the paper of the checks separates the inked surfaces of the type blocks from the compressible tubing II 3 of the platen roll. These operations are effectuated by supporting the platen roll on a longitudinally extending axially'disposed shaft II4, the; shaft carrying i spaced antifriction bearings ,III- so that the platen roll may .turn freely aboutthe 'axisof the shaft II4. Thelatter shaft isisupported in eccentric bearings I I6 (Fig. 5) and is pinned to said bearings as at I", the bearings rotating in supports II8 which carry'threadedstems II9,'the latter providing for verticaladjustment or the :shaft II4 with respectto the frame brackets I20.

v 5,- 6,1 and 8, upward swinging movement on-the I shaft 23 rotates, the cani*I,36 is brought'into con- To rock the shaft I u and its associated eccentric bearings, one end of the shaft I I4, as disclosedin Figs. 3 and 6, is provided with a cross arm I2 I.

One-end of this'arm is formed with a head I22 which'is shouldered asat I23 for cooperation with 5 i a pivoted latch I24."'"The opposite end of the arm I2I" carries a; roller I25 and is connected at one end with a coil spring I26, the opposite end of said springbeing connected with a stationaryframe bracket. The spring I26 serves normally centric bearings tof-move the platen roll toward the printing cylinden'ithis tendencybeing re- 15 strained by the normal position of, the latch I 24. The end of the latch I24 and theengaging V shoulder I23 ofthe head I22 are beveled-so that the latch is restrained against movement" away from said head under the-influence of its, spring I. I y 12 1- v Rotatably supported in connection -withthe frame of the machine is arock-shaft" I 28 towhich is-fixed (Fig. 6) a Y'-shaped lever" I29. The arm I30 of this lever carries a set screw I3I, which actsas a stop for outward swinging-movementon the "part of the latch I24; The other arm I32 of thelever I29 carries aroller I 33" at its outer end which, under the influence of the spring I34, connect with the lever' I29 and a stationary part of the frame, is maintained in contact with the fixed on the drive shaft 23. Also arrangedon the driveshaft 23' is a 'secondcam I36 which is i I adapted for engagement with the periphery of the roller I25 carried by the cross arm: I2I. The rockshaft' I28 is equipped with a rod I31 which. islaterally bentto project throughan arcuate slot "I38 in one of the stationary frame .members of the machine-and, as shown inLFigs;

By this construction, it'will be'seenthat when I I a sheet of paper is positioned between the rolls part-of therod I31 is prevented, and thiscondi- =tionis utilized to cause the platen roll 4 to move into impression producing'engagement with' a I sheet of paper registe'redwiththe type blocks. Ifthe machine is operated without feeding paper therethrough,"the platen rollis maintained in its lowered position or removed' -from contact with the printing surfaces 'ofthe type blocks. This result is'obtained by the'fact that as the tact with the roller I25, thereby'rocking the cross arm I 2| and elevating the head end I22thereof1 1 sufficiently to release "theliatch I24, the "latter responding to its spring rand-contacting, with the set screw I 3I carried byfthe'lever arm I30. 05

The movement produced by the engagement of the cam I36 with'the roller I 25 'rockstheplate'n' -roll--shaft'in' adirection' tending to move the platen roll away from "the printing cylinder; Following the release of the'latch, thecam I35 will 'lO then be positioned so that its flat surfaces in-,-

dicated at I will be brought into contact-with 7 the roller I33' carried by the lever-arm I32, cans-1 ing upward movement of the lever I29 as-awhole underthe influenceof its spring I 34, thusrocke .75

10 to oscillate'thearm I2-I in a direction which will cause the rotation of the-shaft II 4 audits ecso peripheral-surface of a cam I35, the latter being 7 I i at ing the share in and permitting a; finger". 1

of the rod ill to swing upwardly into the groove i provided in the upper roll ,thisaction 'takingplace in the-event that a paper'sheet is not disposed between the rolls and'l. The upward swinm movement imparted-to, the lever!"- when in contact with the surface I ofthe cam I swings the arm I30 thereof so that the latch 'platen roll.

I24 will be returned to latching cooperation with the shoulder of the head l'22,s'o that menses cannot move downwardly andthus elevate the "However, inthe event of the presence pf a sheet of paperfbetween the rolls and I it will be manifest that when the III is in aiposi- ,tio n' so that" its flat surface! is arranged over the roller I33, upward swinging'mov'ement of the lever I29 tocause contact-of gthe'roller'lll j with the surface l ll is prevented, since the finger portion 'lflfofflthe rod lll engages-the under surface of the paper sheet disposed 'betweenthe rolls 6 and 8, thus preventing the upward swinging movement of the lever I in responseto the action of its spring I34; also, thereturn of" the Q to' the shoulder-"123;? This permits the cross arm latch! toits latching positionwithlrelation III to respond'to the influence of its spring I26 so P that the head] end I21 of the cross arm l2l swings downwardly past the upper end ofthe latch and rocks the platen shaft in a, direction to cause the elevation of the platen roll I producing position. Afterthia the cam lfl'again contacts [to its impression the roller i2! and returns the platen to its lowered position. Thelatch I2 is thusheld v out of the path of movement of the head I22 as long aspaperis being passed between rolls I andlj In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that 'l the present invention'provides an automatic printing machine by which 'validatin'g'insignia and/or signatures maybe rapidly printedjon negotiable instruments, such, as banlacheckslor the like, the machine being also adapted for, the Y printing, of endorsing signatures on the backs of such bank checks as well as for the printing of validating signatures on the front of bank checks in the lower right hand corner thereof.- The side I frames of the-machine, as shown at the leftof Figs. 3 and 4, are spaced, and the hood or cover 1 slotted lengthwise of the machine as at I42 so that paper sheets of difl'ering widths-or lengths may be passed through the machine without dimculty. The machine is substantially fully automatic in its operation andvmerely requires II the placing of the checks to be printed-in superposed order in the magazine or rack associated with the primary feeding cylinder 3i -and the roller H. The machine serves to remove the checks from the magazine or rack in successive order from the bottom of the superposed stack of checks and feeds the checks rapidly and successively through the machine into engagement with the mensions. Following, the printing operation. the

checks are deposited automatically in a'receptacle I" arrangedat the forward end of the machine and which receptacle provides for the convenient removal of the printed checks from the machine.

What is claimed is: p p

1. In a printing machine, a rotatable printing "cylinder; means for controlling the delivery of paper sheetsto said cylinder, comprising a pairof superposed feed rolls ancl an adjoining horizontally aligned pair of superposed stop'rolls, driverne'ans for rotating saidfe'ed rolls in directions to'advance' paper passed between the same towards said printing. cylinder and to rotate said stop rolls in reverse order to that of the feed rolls to arrest paper movement toward'saidqprlnting cylinder, and meanssynchronized with the rotation of said cylinder .to maintain :thefeed rolls in-paper advancing engagement while the stop rolls are separated and alternately to main tain the stop rolls in relative engagement while thefeed rolls are separated.

2. Ina printing machine, paper feeding mechanism comprising a pair of superposed feed "rolls, and an adjoining horizontally aiignedpair' of superposed stop rolls,,drive.means' for rotating 'said feed rolls in directions H toadvance paper passed between thesame toward a printing instrumentality and to rotate said stop 'rollsin reverse order to that of the feed rolls toarrestpaper movement toward said printinginstrumentality, and means for alternatelybringing said feed and stop rolls into and'outof paper movement-controlling positions. I

3. In a printing machine, a frame, a pair of rotatable superposed paper feeding rolls revolubly' supported by said frame, a pair of adjoining superposed stop rolls revolubly supported-by said frame in horizontal registration withlsaid feed rolls, drive means for rotating, said feed'iolls to advance paper passed'between the same toward a printing instrumentality, cooperative drive means for rotating said stop rolls in directions to instrumentality, and means for effecting relative separation of'said' stop rolls to permit of the passage of paper therehetwee'n in response to the operation of the feed rolls.

-4. In printing mechanism; a frame structure, a printing instrumentality carried by said frame structure, means for controlling the delivery of paper to said instrumentality comprising a pair of superposed feed rolls rotatably supported in said frame structure, a pair of superposed stop interrupt the travel of paper toward said printing rolls rotatably supported by said frame struc-- ture in adjoining relationship with .saidfeed rolls and in parallel relationship therewith, drive means for rotating said feed rolls to effect ad- 'vance of paper passing betweenthe same to said printing instrumentality, cooperative drive means for rotating said stop rolls in a direction opposing the advance of the paper to the printing instrumentality, and means for alternately raising and lowering one of the feed rolls and one of the stop rolls in controlling the advance I of paper between said rolls to the printing instrumentality. Q

. 5. In printing mechanism, a supporting frame,

a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said frame, a platen rotatably supported by said frame in registration with said printing cylinder, a set o! four rolls for timing the deliveryof paper to said cylinder and platen, said rolls being disposed in adjoining superposed pairs, means for rotat- I ing said timing rolls so that the first pair of said rolls revolve to advance paper fed between the same to the printing cylinder and platen-and revolving the second pair of rolls in a direction opposed to the movement of the paper toward said cylinder, and means synchronized with the rotation of said cylinderto alternately bring the said pairs of timing rolls into and out of paper movement-controlling positions.

6. In printing mechanism, a supporting frame, I a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said frame, means for controlling the delivery of paper to said cylinder comprising a pair of vertically aligned feed rolls and an adjoining and hOrizontally registering, pair of vertically aligned stop rolls, journalscarried by said frame for rotatably supporting the upper of said feed and stop rolls,

eccentric journals carried by'saidframe for ro- I tatably supporting the lower ofsaid feed and stop rolls and providing for relative movement between said upper and lower feed and ;stop rolls, a drive shaft for saidprinting cylinder, gearing operated by said drive shaft for rotating the feed and stop rolls inopposed relationship with respect to each other, a cam'rptated by said drive shaft,

and means actuated by the'rotation of said cam for actuating the eccentric journals of the lower 'ofsaid feed and stop rolls to alternately bring said last-named rolls into and out of paper controlling engagement with the upper of said rolls.

1 7. Paper feeding mechanism for printing machines comprising a frame, a pair of relatively movable paper feeding rolls Journaled transversely in said' frame, an adjoining pair of rela-: tively movable superposed stop rolls journaled in saidframe adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said feeding rolls, synchronized means for maintaining said stop rolls in direct contact with each other while the feed rolls are relatively separated to cause said stop rolls to momentarily J arrest movement of paper sheets in a forward direction through said frame, said means operating alternately to separate said stop 'rollsfwhen the feed rolls are brought into feeding engagement with said sheets, whereby to resume the advance of said sheets through the frame and cause their passage between the separated stop rolls, and means for rotating said feed rolls.

' 8. Paper feeding mechanism for printing ma chines comprising a frame, a way for theadmeansfor rotating said feed rolls.

. printing instrumentality arrangedat one endvof tending transversely acrosssaid wax'a cooperative pair of relatively movable superposed feed roll's 'Journaled in said frame and extei'iclingpar allel t'osaid stop rolls in horizontalalignment tion of the printing 'in'strumentality for bringing ,vance of paper sheets in ahorizontal plane and successive order through said frame toward. an

.'.associated printing.instrumentality; a'pair of vertically superposed and relatively movable stop rolis'extending transversely across said way-- in II advance of the printing instrumentality, said rolls being operative when in relativecontact toen gage the; leading edges of paper sheets advanced through said way to momentarily. interrupt the rmovementflof said sheetsv toward said printing instrumentality, a pair of vertically superposed relatively movable feed rolls extending trans-- [versely of said-way in advance of and. in ad jacent parallel relationship with said stop rolls, synchronizing means for maintaining saidfeed rolls in relatively s'paced relation'when said stop rolls are in relative contact and bringing said feed 1 rolls into paper advancing engagement concurrently with the spacing of the stop rollsgand 9. Paper'feeding mechanism for printing machines comprising a frame provided with away for the advance,- of paper sheetsin a horizontal plane andsuccessive order toward a cooperative said way, means forimparting longitudinal movementto the sheets advancing along said way, a pair of vertically superposed and relatively mow able stop rolls journaledin said frame and ex-- therewith, means synchronized with the opera:

said stop rolls into relative contact and separat ing'said feed rollsjto momentarily interrupt the advance of -sheetstoward'the printing instrumentality solely by engagement'of theleading edges of said sheets with the stop rolls, said means being further operativeto separate said stop rolls and bringsaid feed rolls into feeding, engagement with the paper sheet sto advance the latterat timed intervals into impression-receiving engagement'with the printing instrumen- [45 tality, and means for rotating said feed rolls. "G I T P- B E? 

